Michael Arato, Former TSA Supervisor, Sentenced in Luggage Thefts

Michael Arato, a former former security supervisor at Newark Liberty International Airport, will face 2 1/2 years in prison due to his involvement in money thefts from travelers' luggage.

In February, Arato pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from a subordinate at the Transportation Security Administration.

According to prosecutors, an employee under Arato stole between $10,000 and $30,000 in cash from passengers' carry-ons during a 13-month period. In exchange for looking the other way, Arato took a kickback.

Arato had faced up to 15 years in prison. He was sentenced Tuesday, reports the Associated Press.

The subordinate, Al Raimi, also pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced in September.

Thefts like this are nothing new. Last August, another former TSA supervisor admitted to stealing $20,000 worth of jewelry and valuables from checked bags at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. And in February, two TSA agents were busted for stealing cash from checked luggage at New York's JFK airport.